Observing the 2002 Mali Presidential Elections Observing the 2002 Mali Presidential Elections Final Report Final Report The Carter Center The Carter Center 453 Freedom Parkway 453 Freedom Parkway Atlanta. GA 30307 Atlanta. GA 30307 (404) 420-5100 (404) 420-5100 fax (404) 420-5196 fax (404) 420-5196 www.cartercenter.org www.cartercenter.org October 2002 October 2002 Table of Contents Table of Contents Mali Presidential Elections Delegation p. 3 Mali Presidential Elections Delegation p. 3 Executive Summary p. 4 Executive Summary p. 4 Background p. 7 Background p. 7 Election Preparations p. 9 Election Preparations p. 9 January 2002: Carter Center Exploratory Assessment p. 15 January 2002: Carter Center Exploratory Assessment p. 15 April-May 2002: Carter Center Observer Mission p. 17 April-May 2002: Carter Center Observer Mission p. 17 Conclusions and Recommendations p. 30 Conclusions and Recommendations p. 30 Postscript: Mali’s 2002 Legislative Elections p. 35 Postscript: Mali’s 2002 Legislative Elections p. 35 Acknowledgments p. 37 Acknowledgments p. 37 Appendices p. 38 Appendices p. 38 About The Carter Center p. 42 About The Carter Center p. 42 2 2 Mali Presidential Elections Delegation Mali Presidential Elections Delegation Delegation Leader Delegation Leader David Pottie, Senior Program Associate, The Carter Center, Canada David Pottie, Senior Program Associate, The Carter Center, Canada Delegation Members Delegation Members Annabel Azim, Program Assistant, The Carter Center, Morocco Annabel Azim, Program Assistant, The Carter Center, Morocco Sylvie Belanger, Consultant, Canada Sylvie Belanger, Consultant, Canada Agnes Chaudron, Intern, The Carter Center, France Agnes Chaudron, Intern, The Carter Center, France Amy Hamelin, Peace Program Coordinator, The Carter Center, USA Amy Hamelin, Peace Program Coordinator, The Carter Center, USA Alfreda Meyers, Diplomat-in-residence, The Carter Center, USA Alfreda Meyers, Diplomat-in-residence, The Carter Center, USA Tore Rose, Consultant, Norway Tore Rose, Consultant, Norway Enrico Sborgi, Consultant, Italy Enrico Sborgi, Consultant, Italy 3 3 Executive Summary Executive Summary Mali’s 2002 presidential elections mark an important step in Mali’s democratic Mali’s 2002 presidential elections mark an important step in Mali’s democratic consolidation following the completion of President Alpha Oumar Konare’s two consolidation following the completion of President Alpha Oumar Konare’s two terms in office. terms in office. Overall, the elections were peaceful, well managed, and conducted in a spirit of Overall, the elections were peaceful, well managed, and conducted in a spirit of transparency. The high number of presidential candidates (24) participating in the transparency. The high number of presidential candidates (24) participating in the elections on April 28, 2002, indicates significant enthusiasm for multiparty electoral elections on April 28, 2002, indicates significant enthusiasm for multiparty electoral competition but also the highly personalized character of politics in Mali. The general competition but also the highly personalized character of politics in Mali. The general atmosphere during the electoral campaign was positive, and there were no reports of atmosphere during the electoral campaign was positive, and there were no reports of intimidation before or on election day. However, the conduct of the tabulation intimidation before or on election day. However, the conduct of the tabulation process generated concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the reported results. process generated concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the reported results. The Center sent a small delegation of staff and observers and therefore did not attempt The Center sent a small delegation of staff and observers and therefore did not attempt to observe on a countrywide basis or to prepare its own comprehensive statement on to observe on a countrywide basis or to prepare its own comprehensive statement on the election. In addition to its own observations, the Center consulted widely with the election. In addition to its own observations, the Center consulted widely with other observers, political party representatives, and voters in order to take note of their other observers, political party representatives, and voters in order to take note of their concerns with the electoral process. concerns with the electoral process. Because no single candidate won a majority of votes during the first round of Because no single candidate won a majority of votes during the first round of elections, a second round of voting was held on May 12. The Center observed a elections, a second round of voting was held on May 12. The Center observed a significant number of logistic and administrative irregularities on both election days. significant number of logistic and administrative irregularities on both election days. For example, several polling stations lacked voter cards for distribution on election For example, several polling stations lacked voter cards for distribution on election day, and in one instance voter cards for two polling centers were locked in a trunk day, and in one instance voter cards for two polling centers were locked in a trunk until midday and therefore unavailable for collection. In other polling stations, until midday and therefore unavailable for collection. In other polling stations, essential election materials such as voter lists, ballot papers, voting booths, and essential election materials such as voter lists, ballot papers, voting booths, and indelible ink were missing, thereby delaying the opening of the polls or affecting the indelible ink were missing, thereby delaying the opening of the polls or affecting the operation of the polling station. The Center also observed the circulation of proxy operation of the polling station. The Center also observed the circulation of proxy vote forms on election day that had been signed by the appropriate officials but with vote forms on election day that had been signed by the appropriate officials but with the voter’s name left blank, in contravention of the electoral law. Despite these the voter’s name left blank, in contravention of the electoral law. Despite these irregularities, the Center found that presiding officers and political party and irregularities, the Center found that presiding officers and political party and 4 4 candidate representatives were committed to ensuring fair and unimpeded voter candidate representatives were committed to ensuring fair and unimpeded voter access on election day. access on election day. Although the second round was conducted more efficiently than the first, the Center Although the second round was conducted more efficiently than the first, the Center continued to observe problems. For example, voter identification continued to pose continued to observe problems. For example, voter identification continued to pose problems. In several places the Center observed voters who were able to cast their problems. In several places the Center observed voters who were able to cast their ballots without having to present any identification at all, while other voters who had ballots without having to present any identification at all, while other voters who had only their voter card were able to cast their ballots without the two witnesses required only their voter card were able to cast their ballots without the two witnesses required by the electoral law. by the electoral law. The tabulation process further troubled the Center, particularly following the first The tabulation process further troubled the Center, particularly following the first round of the elections during which observer access to the national tabulation process round of the elections during which observer access to the national tabulation process was ad hoc and communication of results was sporadic. The tabulation process was was ad hoc and communication of results was sporadic. The tabulation process was conducted through the operation of committees at local, district, and national levels. conducted through the operation of committees at local, district, and national levels. The committees were comprised of government and political party representatives. The committees were comprised of government and political party representatives. Overall, the tabulation process remained cumbersome because each of these Overall, the tabulation process remained cumbersome because each of these committees operated independently of one another, and each conducted a complete committees operated independently of one another, and each conducted a complete tabulation. While the presence of candidate representatives on these committees tabulation. While the presence of candidate representatives on these committees demonstrated a commitment to transparency, it did not serve as an effective check on demonstrated a commitment to transparency, it did not serve as an effective check on possible errors because the results from each level were not reconciled with the results possible errors because the results from each level were not reconciled with the results from the other levels. This process was time-consuming and resulted in excessive from the other levels. This process was time-consuming and resulted in excessive duplication of effort. Finally, only regional and national results were released to the duplication of effort. Finally, only regional and national results were released to the public, making assessments of local or polling station